The ultimate VR headset buyer’s guide

Design

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The absolute best quality virtual reality experiences cannot be powered by a mobile phone. The Oculus Rift, Valve and HTC Vive, and Sony PlayStation VR - the three high-end headsets we're currently expecting - all work on external computers or games consoles. This means that they can offer sophisticated features such as motion tracking, high resolution screens and the best possible graphics. They are also generally more comfortable, block outside light better, and are less prone to causing motion sickness. But they won't be released until later this year, and for now they're pricey and aimed primarily at early adopters.

original price

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By almost any measure, high-end headsets cost

a lot.

The Oculus Rift costs $599, plus the as-yet-unknown cost of its motion controllers. The HTC Vive costs $799. The only headset we know nothing about at the moment is PlayStation VR. Early price estimates for the Rift and Vive were way off - people underestimated the former and overestimated the latter - so we'll refrain from making PSVR guesses. But we know it's going to cost "several hundred dollars," and it's not just a helmet; there is also a box that helps the PlayStation 4 process video. These prices will come down over time, but it's hard to say how long that might take.

High-end headsets offer more complex and interactive experiences

Hidden costs

Most people have a desktop or laptop computer. But the only ones likely to own VR-ready PCs (sorry, no Macs yet) are movie or video editors, big-budget video game fans, and other people who regularly need lots of processing power. To be clear, computers that don't meet the specs recommended by Rift and Vive may still be able to run some VR games and videos, which will vary in complexity and size. But to get a guaranteed good experience, expect to spend around $1,000 if you're buying a new desktop — maybe a bit less if you're buying a headset and PC combo bundle. With PlayStation VR, however, the math is much simpler: all you need is a PlayStation 4 console.

It takes space

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One of the great features you get with high-end headsets is the ability to move or even walk in space. The standard way to do this - used by Oculus and Sony - is to place LEDs or another set of markers on the headset and then track them with an external camera. This type of position tracking is very effective, but how far you can move depends on how much space the camera can capture. PlayStation VR mainly lets you lean, crouch, and move around. The Rift can let you move a few feet in any direction, although we've only seen this with multiple tracking cameras. x 15 foot room. It's by far the most freedom you'll get from any helmet, especially with a 'chaperone' system that turns on a camera to show you when you're approaching an edge. But that also means you'll need to set up a powerful computer next to a totally unobstructed floor. The Vive can also work in smaller spaces, so it's a good buy if your house or apartment is a bit more cramped. But it makes less sense to get the most expensive headset on the market if you're not taking advantage of its biggest advantage.

Controllers

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Tethered headsets tend to be more video game-focused than the rest of the pool, and the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR frequently use gamepads. The Oculus Rift will come with an Xbox One controller, which will be the primary method of using the system at launch. The PSVR uses PlayStation 4 controllers for several experiences. But what really sets these premium headsets apart are their motion controllers, which let you do everything from play realistic virtual ping-pong to three-dimensional painting.

Sony already had its Move motion tracker. wands, and the PlayStation 4 gamepad has a light strip that trail cameras can pick up too. The Rift and Vive use their own specially designed controllers, and which one you prefer is largely down to feel, as they have similar capabilities. But there are some logistical issues: the Rift's controllers won't be released until months after the headset's release, and the Vive

only

uses HTC and Valve motion wands - no traditional gamepads included.

The three helmets allow you to move in physical space

Availablity

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April is going to be a huge month for high end headphones. The Oculus Rift ships in late March and the HTC Vive shortly after, marking the first two high-end headset launches. Many people, however, could get their orders closer to this summer. The Oculus Rift is heavily out of stock, with a current shipping date of July for first-time buyers – though buying a PC bundle might get you one sooner. Vive pre-orders just opened and we don't know how much inventory HTC is working with. The Rift (and likely Vive) will appear in stores, but don't expect to see large quantities.

If you watch PlayStation VR, the timeline gets a bit longer. We recently heard that Sony is shipping it this fall, and it's possible we'll hear an exact date at this year's Game Developers Conference, where the company has released VR information in the past. Sony released around 17 launch games last year, although the developers were generally more secretive about their plans than they were with the Rift or the Vive. And while there are free games that come with the headsets, Rift controls will come with the platformer.

Lucky’s Tale

for everyone and

EVE: Valkyrie

for pre-orders, and Vive pre-order customers get Tilt Brush,

Fantastic Contraction

and

Job Simulator

— everyone has also been quite coy about how much you will pay for

to buy

a game.

Unless you're determined to be a very early adopter, waiting a few months might just be the best option. Both Oculus and Valve have lined up several dozen titles for the Rift and Vive, but the full catalog will take a few months to release, and it will take time to squash the inevitable bugs that come with new releases. For the Oculus Rift in particular, many of its best experiences - like the Medium sculpt tool - won't work until the Touch motion controllers ship later this year. And if you wait, the hardware needed to run these high-end headsets will only be cheaper.